let sleeping dogs lie

You usually use this phrase when someone wants to revisit an old argument. It works as a piece of advice or a personal decision. You can say, I was going to complain, but I decided to let sleeping dogs lie. It functions as a complete thought or a verb phrase. Use it when you feel that 'winning' an argument isn't worth the drama it will cause. It’s the ultimate 'choose your battles' strategy.

Use it when a situation is currently stable, even if it isn't perfect. Maybe your boss forgot about a small mistake you made last week. Don't remind them! At a dinner party, if your cousins aren't fighting for once, don't bring up politics. It’s perfect for those moments where 'honesty' might actually be 'hostility.' It’s great for maintaining the status quo in delicate social circles.

Never use this for serious, ongoing problems that need a real solution. If a pipe is leaking in your kitchen, don't let sleeping dogs lie or your house will flood! It’s not for emergencies or safety issues. Also, avoid using it if someone is actively asking you for the truth. In those cases, it can sound like you are being secretive or lazy. Don't use it to ignore your taxes either; the government is not a sleeping dog!

This phrase has been around for centuries. Even the famous writer Geoffrey Chaucer used a version of it in the 1300s. It reflects a very British and Western value: the 'stiff upper lip.' It suggests that keeping the peace is often more important than being right. It’s deeply rooted in the idea of social harmony. It implies that time can heal things, but only if you stop picking at the wound.

You might hear people say Leave well enough alone. This is the more modern, less poetic cousin of our dog phrase. Sometimes people just say, Let it lie. In the Southern US, you might hear Don't go looking for trouble. However, the version with the sleeping dogs remains the most colorful and widely understood version across the English-speaking world.